23 août 2010

21 août 2010

Barbara Hulanicki's Biba, which opened in Kensington in 1964, was in business for only a decade yet is now one of the most collectible fashion labels.The Biba look - from the colourful knee-high suede boots, bell-sleeved printed dresses, velvet trouser suits and 1930s-inspired silk gowns - spawned endless imitations.Girls of the moment such as Bianca Jagger, Marianne Faithfull and Angie Bowie visited the store with their rock star husbands and boyfriends in tow.Models such as Twiggy, who with her doll face epitomised the Biba look, were regulars and young girls shopped every Friday and Saturday, often blowing their entire week's wages.The label began life when Hulanicki designed a mini-dress for readers of the Daily Mirror - 17,000 dresses were sold.Next month, a collection of almost 100 original Biba pieces goes on sale as part of Vintage Mayfair, a fashion sale at London's Gray's Antiques Market.